On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 6:51 AM, Diane Hofstetter <dianepianotuner at msn.com>wrote: > I know many of you have written in the past about the problems with tuning > stability in brand new loaner pianos from manufacturers. Fortunately the > college where I am tuning has purchased these pianos, so they won't > disappear just when we get them settled in. > > However, my question is this; in a practice room in a small college, how > long, or how many tunings do you think it will take for the school's new > Kawai UST-9's to stabilize in tuning? > > The pianos were delivered directly to the college from the warehouse > and uncrated there. Before that they spent two days in the truck. It was > snowing outside. > > They have Dampp Chaser heating rods and HD humidistats installed, but my > data logger, which was in their new Boesendorfer between December 4 and > February 4, showed nothing but too dry. Every time I have tuned in the > practice rooms, my humidity gauge reads 36-38% RH. I do expect the humidity > to go up to around 60% in the spring. > > Each piano has received one pitch adjustment--usually pitch raises, but two > of them took lowering--and one tuning since the beginning of February when > they were delivered. Already I want to tune a couple of them again, but > this is not in the budget or mindset of either the store that sent me out or > the college who now owns the pianos. They all think the tunings should be > stable already. > > Experienced opinions gratefully received! > Diane Hofstetter > > > Hi Diane, My experience is primarily with UST-7's & 8's having contracted to a Kawai dealer for over 20 years. My info is that the UST-9 isn't appreciably different except for the action materials. I've found that they stabilize with time and 3 or 4 tunings, they can't be "hurried" but instead need some time in between to acclimate. Be aware that these were probably assembled in China and my sources tell me that they have been coming through in good regulation, no report on tuning. In the good old days when they were made in Japan they used to arrive not only in tune but a little sharp, sealed in plastic wrap of course. But I digress.......... My suggestion would be to put a little extra stretch as you work your way up, it will help it to acclimate a little faster. Mike -- I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Steven Wright Michael Magness Magness Piano Service 608-786-4404 www.IFixPianos.com email mike at ifixpianos.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/caut_ptg.org/attachments/20090218/6f9cd8c6/attachment-0001.html>
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